Good morning ASI.
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Welcome to the
worship this morning.
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Let us begin by closing our eyes
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and lifting our thoughts to
Lord asking for His help here.
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Precious Heavenly Father, we
want to hear from your throne
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as You call to
each of our hearts.
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What we can do
to be more like You
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and to rightly represent You
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as individuals and as
families here on earth.
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So we invite your
presence here now, Lord,
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as we share from our
hearts and share in song.
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Let those who
hear and if convicted
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by the Holy Sprit will turn
to You to achieve the strength
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to do the things that
you've called us to do
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in Jesus name, amen.
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We were excited when
we heard that the theme
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for the early
morning devotionals
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this year would be
"Knowing Him as a Family."
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Because for the past 15
years, we've been on a journey
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that has led us
to the discovery of
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God's special beautiful design
and purpose for each family
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which is to experience
intimacy with Him as a family.
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There is incredible
joy and blessing for us
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and all others when we
catch a vision of God's design
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and seek to
fulfill His glorious plan.
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We find ourselves connected,
happy, secure, fulfilled,
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and empowered, and
equipped with the most powerful
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evangelistic tool in our hands.
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What is that evangelistic tool?
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There's a passage that is found
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in "Adventist Home,"
page 32 that clearly defines
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how we can be the
most effective witnesses
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for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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It states, the greatest evidence
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of the power of Christianity
that can be presented
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to the world is a well-ordered,
well disciplined family.
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This will recommend the
truth as nothing else can
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for it is a living
witness of its practical power
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upon the heart.
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So we wanna share with
you about a time in our lives
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when we came unto
the conviction that
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while we were
professed Christians
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engaged in God's work,
we were not connected to God
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and to one another in the way
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that God
designed families to be.
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And thus we were unable to
witness of the effectiveness
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of the gospel of Jesus
Christ in our own lives,
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in our own hearts
and how by God's grace
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this has changed
and continues changing.
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I graduated from the
family practice residency
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at Hinsdale Hospital in
the suburbs of Chicago in 1981.
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I completed a
teaching fellowship.
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I joined the faculty,
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and I began teaching
in the residency program.
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I was practicing obstetrics
as a family physician.
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I was administering
the residency practice.
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We were newly
weds. Maria is a nurse.
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She was working on
the 3:00 to 11:00 shift.
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So you can imagine how our lives
crossed on different paths.
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On the weekends, I was busy with
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my responsibilities
as a church elder
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and engaged in
starting a new church.
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I loved my wife but I was
not tuned in to her needs.
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Well, as time went
on we started a family.
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I became more
involved in service to others.
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Maria learned to
live with my busyness.
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I was now
involved in media ministry
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with the focus of
reaching the secular world
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and then I added
a children's series.
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I was conducting
health lectures at churches.
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I had a part
time medical practice
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while now being the director
of the residency program.
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When I was at home I
was often on the phone.
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I was so busy doing God's work
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that I had little
or no time for God.
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We live in an age, in
a society where it seems
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that nearly everyone is pressed
for time, hurried and hassled.
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Technology has
provided us with more so called
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time saving devices than
ever before in the history
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of mankind and
yet we have less time
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for meaningful
communication and relatedness
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than we have ever had before.
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God says be still
and know that I am God.
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It takes time
with Him first of all.
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It takes silence
in the soul to be able
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to search out the
deep things of God.
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We cannot
experience real intimacy
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with our Father
unless we take time
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to have those
periods of stillness
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before Him on a regular basis.
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Likewise we cannot experience
intimacy with our spouses.
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We cannot experience
closeness as a family
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unless we take time, once again
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for that meaningful association,
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deep
communication, and relatedness.
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This is why cohesive families
tend to be a thing of the past.
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One pastor speaking
of the people of God
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in the context of
modern life has said,
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"We have become a body of people
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that look more like a
herd of cattle in a stampede
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than a flock of God
beside green pastures
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and still waters."
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And this is the way
that I remember our lives
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being in those early
years of our marriage.
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I remember always
longing for more time
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with my husband and never
feeling like I had enough.
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As the months and years passed
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we began having children.
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And I grew up hearing
stories from my mother
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of her very happy
family life in a large family
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so I wanted to
have a large family.
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But by the time we
had three and then four
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I was overwhelmed and I
felt alone in the day-to-day
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coping with the challenges
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of raising and mothering
several young children.
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I often ended the day
with tremendous fatigue,
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with tears and regret
desiring with all my heart
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to be a happy, a
nurturing godly mother
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but often losing
my temper with them.
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You see I was ignorant
because I wasn't taking
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that time to be still
and to learn of the Father.
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I was ignorant of the
principles that could make
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our home that could bring
peace and order into our home.
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One evening, I was
especially fatigued
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and disappointed having learned
that he was not coming home.
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He had just
admitted a woman in labor
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to the hospital and he
would not be home that evening.
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I lost my temper once
again with our children
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as I was trying to
get them to bed early
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and they were not
quickly cooperating.
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I yelled at our
oldest, our seven year old.
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I said, "When will
you ever learn to listen
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and to be
considerate of your mother?"
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Now while it was not infrequent
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for me to lose
my temper with them.
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It was different this time
in that instead of bringing
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all activity to a
halt as they usually did
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when I lost my
temper and just watching me
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in silent dread, this time
she spoke up and it shocked me.
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She said, "I can
never please you,"
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with big tears in her eyes.
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"I'll never be
able to please you."
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I was silenced by her words
and I put them to bed quietly
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and filled with shame and regret
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I lay in bed wondering
how can I be so hurtful
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to children
that I wanted so much
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and that I love so dearly?
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For the first time, I was struck
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by the ugliness of
the sin of angry words
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and the devastating
effect upon the heart.
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I cried to God in
despair that evening.
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How could I learn
to manage my children
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in a loving God-honoring way?
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How could I teach
them to love Jesus
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and to love, honor,
and obey their parents
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without losing
my temper frequently
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and speaking words
of condemnation to them?
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In a passage from Ellen White,
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that is found in the
S.D.A. Bible Commentary
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among other places.
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It says, "The greatest insult
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that we can inflict
upon Him, upon Christ,
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is to pretend to
be His disciples,
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while manifesting the
spirit of Satan in our words,
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our
dispositions, and our actions."
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The same principle is stated
in James 1:26 where it states,
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"If any man among
you seem to be religious,
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and bridleth not his tongue,
but deceiveth his own heart,
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this man's religion is in vain."
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My religion friends was in vain
during that period of my life.
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I was as Romans 1:18 puts it,
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"Holding the truth
in unrighteousness."
00:14:10.11\00:14:14.59
As I cried to God that evening,
I desperately wanted victory
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but I lacked elements
that are necessary for victory
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like the habit of
consistent daily earnest study
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of the word of God
specifically searching
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for the
solutions to the problems
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that challenged me
in my daily experience.
00:14:35.58\00:14:38.83
I lacked the power
of the Holy Spirit.
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I longed for my
husband to be spiritual leader
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and priest of our home
to conduct family worship
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on a daily basis
to lead us to Jesus
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and to the
answers that we needed
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so that we could
become the happy godly family
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that I knew God wanted us to be.
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But he only conducted worship
00:15:01.62\00:15:04.15
on a hit-or-miss basis
because he was too busy,
00:15:04.16\00:15:07.81
too busy with work,
ministry activities,
00:15:07.82\00:15:11.92
and commitments
outside of our home.
00:15:11.93\00:15:13.93
So Lord calling to your heart?
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Well, conviction came to me
on Shante's seventh birthday.
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As I sat around in the
boisterous children's voices
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and I'm looking at
this seven-year-old child,
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it dawned on me,
I did not know her.
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I did not know what
her favorite color was.
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I did not know what
the name was of that thing
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she drags around that looks like
a teddy bear once in a while.
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I didn't know what its name was.
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I realized with
sadness that I had lived
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for seven years with
this child and in my heart
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while I longed to
be a godly father,
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where was I to find the time?
00:16:01.37\00:16:05.28
Every moment was consumed
in the practice of medicine
00:16:05.29\00:16:08.60
at the
hospital, teaching the art
00:16:08.61\00:16:10.31
to up and coming physicians.
00:16:10.32\00:16:12.30
At the hospital,
I was Mr. Wonderful.
00:16:12.31\00:16:14.88
There I was a success.
00:16:14.89\00:16:17.03
Work consumed me
and I did not resist.
00:16:17.04\00:16:21.55
How many of you
can relate to this?
00:16:21.56\00:16:24.17
I also managed to
make time for an outreach
00:16:24.18\00:16:27.02
and for service to others
but at home I was failing.
00:16:27.03\00:16:31.87
Well, God brought me
to conviction that day
00:16:31.88\00:16:35.29
that something needed to change
00:16:35.30\00:16:37.28
if I was to hear
the words one day
00:16:37.29\00:16:39.81
well done thou good
and faithful service.
00:16:39.82\00:16:43.95
When the Lord asked me
where is the beautiful flock
00:16:43.96\00:16:48.14
that I gave you?
00:16:48.15\00:16:50.32
Well, during the rest
of our time this morning
00:16:50.33\00:16:52.33
we want to share
with you the simple steps
00:16:52.34\00:16:54.62
that God led us to take as
we sought answers from His word.
00:16:54.63\00:17:00.19
There were two things
that we as parents were missing
00:17:00.20\00:17:03.39
in our lives that
we came to understand
00:17:03.40\00:17:06.20
were necessary
absolutely necessary
00:17:06.21\00:17:09.59
for us to become the
happy, cohesive, vibrant,
00:17:09.60\00:17:14.16
fully
functional, full of purpose,
00:17:14.17\00:17:17.10
mission driven minded
family that God designed
00:17:17.11\00:17:21.09
ever family to become.
00:17:21.10\00:17:22.96
The first, Maria,
has already spoken of
00:17:22.97\00:17:25.52
and brothers and sisters if
you've not already done this
00:17:25.53\00:17:29.08
we just plead with
you to experience the joy.
00:17:29.09\00:17:32.70
There's joy to be found
in a personal intimate real
00:17:32.71\00:17:38.03
living connection
with Jesus Christ.
00:17:38.04\00:17:40.95
It is that connection
that gives us the strength
00:17:40.96\00:17:45.38
to overcome the
areas in our lives
00:17:45.39\00:17:47.44
where we're having difficulty.
00:17:47.45\00:17:48.56
That we can experience
victory over our flesh
00:17:48.57\00:17:52.37
and continual growth in grace
00:17:52.38\00:17:55.24
which transforms our
marriage, our parenting,
00:17:55.25\00:17:59.47
and every aspect of our lives.
00:17:59.48\00:18:01.90
The second is a strong
heart-to-heart connection
00:18:01.91\00:18:07.47
amongst all
members of our family.
00:18:07.48\00:18:09.25
First with Maria and myself
and with each of our children.
00:18:09.26\00:18:13.67
So that we become partakers
together of all the blessings
00:18:13.68\00:18:17.49
that God wants to bestow
00:18:17.50\00:18:18.91
on families and
through families.
00:18:18.92\00:18:23.72
Well, let's look at the first
element that we are missing.
00:18:23.73\00:18:28.07
You know, the
challenge that we're faced
00:18:28.08\00:18:29.37
with is that often times
we look for our own solutions
00:18:29.38\00:18:32.86
but the solutions to
any issues that we face
00:18:32.87\00:18:36.02
are to be found in God's word.
00:18:36.03\00:18:38.06
In John 6:63 it says, "It
is the spirit that quickeneth,
00:18:38.07\00:18:42.41
the flesh profiteth nothing:
00:18:42.42\00:18:44.89
the words that I speak unto you,
00:18:44.90\00:18:47.54
they are spirit
and they are life."
00:18:47.55\00:18:49.76
Spiritual life
can only be kindled,
00:18:49.77\00:18:51.96
revived and
maintained by the Holy Spirit
00:18:51.97\00:18:54.86
through the word of God.
00:18:54.87\00:18:56.59
So coming on to this conviction,
00:18:56.60\00:18:58.01
I made the commitment 14
years ago that I would spend
00:18:58.02\00:19:01.87
the first hour of
every day in God's word.
00:19:01.88\00:19:06.15
Since then I have
sought to follow the admonition
00:19:06.16\00:19:09.80
that I read one
day in my devotions
00:19:09.81\00:19:11.67
in "Steps to Christ,"
page 70, where it says,
00:19:11.68\00:19:14.84
"Consecrate yourself to God."
00:19:14.85\00:19:17.66
In the morning make
this your very first work.
00:19:17.67\00:19:22.51
You know, we are promised
00:19:22.52\00:19:23.99
that as we do this our lives
will be molded more and more
00:19:24.00\00:19:29.99
after the life of Christ.
00:19:30.00\00:19:32.09
You know, I've sought to
make my study of God's word
00:19:32.10\00:19:35.01
very practical
dealing with my personal needs
00:19:35.02\00:19:39.28
like how to be a godly husband?
00:19:39.29\00:19:41.55
And how to be the father
that God would have me to be?
00:19:41.56\00:19:44.34
And how to overcome
the areas of weakness
00:19:44.35\00:19:47.38
that the Holy Spirit
opens my eyes to see?
00:19:47.39\00:19:49.94
I believed that
making my study practical
00:19:49.95\00:19:53.50
has made the most
dramatic difference in my life.
00:19:53.51\00:19:56.79
It's not always been
easy to keep this commitment.
00:19:56.80\00:19:59.57
There are obstacles
like spending long evenings
00:19:59.58\00:20:04.16
engaged in projects or programs
00:20:04.17\00:20:07.12
that make for a late
day and make it very hard
00:20:07.13\00:20:10.20
to get up in the morning
00:20:10.21\00:20:11.32
to spend that
time in God's word.
00:20:11.33\00:20:15.27
Referring back to the
text that Edwin quoted.
00:20:15.28\00:20:17.77
John 6:63, "It is the spirit
00:20:17.78\00:20:20.47
that quickeneth, the
flesh profiteth nothing."
00:20:20.48\00:20:23.00
Friends, it was my flesh
00:20:23.01\00:20:24.64
that was in charge of
my life in the illustration
00:20:24.65\00:20:27.49
that I gave you of
my parenting in those
00:20:27.50\00:20:30.68
early years and
indeed it profited nothing.
00:20:30.69\00:20:35.31
Both my
husband's hectic lifestyle
00:20:35.32\00:20:39.82
and the resulting lack
of spiritual leadership
00:20:39.83\00:20:42.72
in our home and my own lack
00:20:42.73\00:20:45.19
of a deep growing
personal experience
00:20:45.20\00:20:49.26
with God were leading
us away from the blessings
00:20:49.27\00:20:53.68
that God has in
store and that He wants
00:20:53.69\00:20:55.93
to bestow on every family.
00:20:55.94\00:20:58.65
The blessing of
nurturing a cohesive,
00:20:58.66\00:21:00.89
happy, vibrant Christian family
00:21:00.90\00:21:03.16
that is a powerful
testimony to the world.
00:21:03.17\00:21:07.41
But as Edwin and
I began to establish
00:21:07.42\00:21:10.63
that living connection
through the word of God
00:21:10.64\00:21:15.37
with him on a daily basis
through communion with Him
00:21:15.38\00:21:18.07
over the months and
years that followed it made
00:21:18.08\00:21:21.05
a dramatic
difference in our family life.
00:21:21.06\00:21:24.33
Friends, we are here to tell
you that there is saving power,
00:21:24.34\00:21:28.19
life changing power in
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:21:28.20\00:21:32.46
Amen. And as I began to make--
00:21:32.47\00:21:35.87
to sit at the feet of Jesus
to make that the first priority
00:21:35.88\00:21:41.02
of my day on a
daily basis I began
00:21:41.03\00:21:46.38
to experience that life
changing power in my own life.
00:21:46.39\00:21:50.39
As a mother I
needed to have self-subdued
00:21:50.40\00:21:54.20
to gain victory over my temper.
00:21:54.21\00:21:57.77
As I spent time in His word
00:21:57.78\00:21:59.64
not as a hasty or
careless reader would
00:21:59.65\00:22:04.16
but diligently
searching for the solutions
00:22:04.17\00:22:08.52
to my challenges the
Lord began to teach me
00:22:08.53\00:22:14.18
the way that He is willing
and eager to teach anyone
00:22:14.19\00:22:18.04
of us who lack
wisdom, who lack knowledge.
00:22:18.05\00:22:21.84
He began to teach me
how to consistently speak
00:22:21.85\00:22:26.55
to our children
and to my husband
00:22:26.56\00:22:29.23
with the law of
kindness on my lips.
00:22:29.24\00:22:33.38
Now I don't have time to share
00:22:33.39\00:22:35.37
with you that
particular journey,
00:22:35.38\00:22:36.77
I share that in
a different message
00:22:36.78\00:22:38.45
but suffice it to
say that as we re-ordered
00:22:38.46\00:22:42.50
our priorities in
our home, in our lives,
00:22:42.51\00:22:45.11
the Lord began to
give us an experience
00:22:45.12\00:22:47.87
that has not only
blessed our family to this day,
00:22:47.88\00:22:51.40
making our home as a
little piece of heaven
00:22:51.41\00:22:54.57
to us but it has given
us a testimony to share
00:22:54.58\00:22:58.44
with others of what Christ
00:22:58.45\00:23:01.54
can do when we
learn to surrender,
00:23:01.55\00:23:04.72
when we learn to die
to self on a daily basis.
00:23:04.73\00:23:07.85
I wonder how many of
you were here yesterday
00:23:07.86\00:23:10.71
as the misters were
sharing, very powerful,
00:23:10.72\00:23:14.47
the principles
that they were sharing
00:23:14.48\00:23:16.10
were the things that
the Lord began to teach us
00:23:16.11\00:23:19.31
as we started
taking that time with Him.
00:23:19.32\00:23:22.77
When self is on the throne
there can be no happiness,
00:23:22.78\00:23:26.68
no real happiness in a marriage,
in a parenting relationship.
00:23:26.69\00:23:30.54
Self must die.
Christ must live in us.
00:23:30.55\00:23:37.35
That we can have all that
we can become the inheritors
00:23:37.36\00:23:41.12
of all the blessings
that He wants to bestow on us.
00:23:41.13\00:23:45.08
The Bible says, "Taste and see."
00:23:45.09\00:23:47.97
Taste and see" that it is good.
00:23:47.98\00:23:51.73
The second
element that I mentioned
00:23:51.74\00:23:53.65
earlier that we were
missing in the ability
00:23:53.66\00:23:56.06
to keep the hearts up
was the ability for us
00:23:56.07\00:23:58.81
to be able to win and keep
the hearts of our children.
00:23:58.82\00:24:01.35
In the book "Child Guidance,"
page 148, it says, listen,
00:24:01.36\00:24:04.83
listen carefully, "You must,
00:24:04.84\00:24:09.46
you must win their
affection if you would impress
00:24:09.47\00:24:15.55
religious truth
upon their hearts."
00:24:15.56\00:24:19.59
We've heard the
heart cry of many parents
00:24:19.60\00:24:22.62
that have lost the
hearts of their children.
00:24:22.63\00:24:27.54
And they see their
children making decisions
00:24:27.55\00:24:30.74
that just bring
their hearts to grief.
00:24:30.75\00:24:33.09
If you want to
impress religious truths
00:24:33.10\00:24:36.81
on your children's hearts
you must have their heart first.
00:24:36.82\00:24:42.35
This requires time. It
requires your presence.
00:24:42.36\00:24:50.08
I tell my brothers that
our wives and our children
00:24:50.09\00:24:54.32
need more than a paycheck.
00:24:54.33\00:24:56.36
They need us to be present,
not distracted, present.
00:24:56.98\00:25:04.49
We need to give ourselves
to our wives and our children
00:25:04.50\00:25:08.19
as the priest of the
home, as the one appointed
00:25:08.20\00:25:12.24
to lead them to
the kingdom of heaven.
00:25:12.25\00:25:15.02
The bible requires us
to lead it's not an option.
00:25:15.03\00:25:20.07
Ephesians 5:23 says,
"For the husband is the head
00:25:20.08\00:25:23.88
of the wife even as
Christ is the head of the church
00:25:23.89\00:25:27.29
and He is the
Savior of the body."
00:25:27.30\00:25:30.99
Have you ever
thought of yourself brothers
00:25:31.00\00:25:33.29
as being the savior for
your family's salvation?
00:25:33.30\00:25:38.52
I know Christ is the one that
00:25:38.53\00:25:39.56
gives us the strength to do this
00:25:39.57\00:25:41.04
but you are to act your part.
00:25:41.05\00:25:43.36
So as I sought to learn
00:25:43.37\00:25:45.21
how to do this in
my devotional time,
00:25:45.22\00:25:47.50
one day I read in two
favorite volumes that I love
00:25:47.51\00:25:50.95
to recall "Mind
Character and Personality,"
00:25:50.96\00:25:53.43
volume I, page
162, "All our powers
00:25:53.44\00:25:57.96
are to be used for Christ,
00:25:57.97\00:26:00.17
this is the debt
we each owe to God.
00:26:00.18\00:26:05.39
Informing a relationship
with Christ the renewed man
00:26:05.40\00:26:08.61
is but coming back
00:26:08.62\00:26:10.86
to his appointed
relationship with God.
00:26:10.87\00:26:14.07
He is a representative of Christ
00:26:14.08\00:26:16.70
and He is ever to watch
00:26:16.71\00:26:18.74
and pray and watch unto prayer.
00:26:18.75\00:26:21.38
His duties lie around
him, nigh and a far off.
00:26:21.39\00:26:29.14
His first duty--his
first duty is to his children
00:26:29.15\00:26:34.35
and his earnest
relatives nothing can excuse him
00:26:34.36\00:26:38.65
from neglecting the inner circle
00:26:38.66\00:26:41.67
for the larger circle outside.
00:26:41.68\00:26:43.49
Oh, was this a call to my heart?
00:26:43.50\00:26:45.95
In the day of final
reckoning fathers and mothers
00:26:45.96\00:26:48.43
will be required to answer
in regard to their children.
00:26:48.44\00:26:52.24
Parents will be
asked what they did?
00:26:52.25\00:26:55.11
and said to secure
the salvation of the souls
00:26:55.12\00:26:58.55
they took upon themselves
00:26:58.56\00:26:59.80
the responsibility of
bringing into the world.
00:26:59.81\00:27:03.29
Did they neglect
their lambs leaving them
00:27:03.30\00:27:06.63
to the care of
strangers? Fathers and mothers
00:27:06.64\00:27:11.06
are you allowing your children
00:27:11.07\00:27:13.73
to grow up in impurity and sin?
00:27:13.74\00:27:17.02
A great--this was the
one that really hit me.
00:27:17.03\00:27:20.80
A great good done for
others will not cancel
00:27:20.81\00:27:26.63
the debt you owe to God
to care for your children.
00:27:26.64\00:27:31.03
The spiritual welfare
of your family comes first.
00:27:31.04\00:27:35.89
Take them with you to the cross
00:27:35.90\00:27:37.55
of Calvary laboring for them
00:27:37.56\00:27:39.88
as those that
must give an account.
00:27:39.89\00:27:42.39
Oh, this called to
my heart that I needed
00:27:42.40\00:27:46.80
to reprioritize my
life and do it in the way
00:27:46.81\00:27:53.50
that God would have me to do it.
00:27:53.51\00:27:56.48
The great deal good done
for others will not cancel
00:27:56.49\00:28:00.76
the debt you owe to God
to care for your children.
00:28:00.77\00:28:06.81
The Old Testament ends
with a prophecy of a voice
00:28:06.82\00:28:11.35
of one that would cry in
the wilderness calling people
00:28:11.36\00:28:16.24
to repentance and
reformation preparing people
00:28:16.25\00:28:19.76
for the First
Coming of the Lord.
00:28:19.77\00:28:21.92
It is found in
Malachi 4 verse 4 through 6.
00:28:21.93\00:28:25.71
And it says, "Behold I
will send you Elijah the Prophet
00:28:25.72\00:28:31.49
before the coming of
that great and dreadful day
00:28:31.50\00:28:34.22
of the Lord and he
shall turn the hearts
00:28:34.23\00:28:38.50
of the fathers to the
children and the hearts
00:28:38.51\00:28:42.60
of the children
to their fathers."
00:28:42.61\00:28:45.14
We are told that this
message is also applicable
00:28:45.15\00:28:48.97
at the end of time in
order to prepare people
00:28:48.98\00:28:52.19
to be ready for the
Second Coming of the Lord.
00:28:52.20\00:28:55.62
And we believe that
it is very appropriate
00:28:55.63\00:28:58.13
that this end time
message would include turning
00:28:58.14\00:29:04.90
the hearts of the
fathers to their children
00:29:04.91\00:29:07.68
and of the
children to their fathers
00:29:07.69\00:29:09.40
because friends Satan has
00:29:09.41\00:29:12.22
so arranged
modern life that parents,
00:29:12.23\00:29:17.60
most parents don't
have time for their children
00:29:17.61\00:29:21.65
the amount of time
that they should devote.
00:29:21.66\00:29:25.36
They have no
time for communicating
00:29:25.37\00:29:27.83
spiritual values as
we are admonished to do
00:29:27.84\00:29:31.14
in Deuteronomy
Chapter 6 verses 6 and 7.
00:29:31.15\00:29:35.94
We are admonished to
do this to share with them
00:29:35.95\00:29:38.57
every thing that God has said
00:29:38.58\00:29:40.92
as we sit in our
houses as we walk by the way
00:29:40.93\00:29:45.44
when we lie down
and when we rise up.
00:29:45.45\00:29:48.64
Parents don't have time
00:29:48.65\00:29:51.24
to simply talk or
listen to their children,
00:29:51.25\00:29:56.53
to play with the
children to befriend them,
00:29:56.54\00:29:59.02
to win their hearts,
00:29:59.03\00:30:01.33
no time to put
into place the elements
00:30:01.34\00:30:04.89
that make for a happy home.
00:30:04.90\00:30:07.86
It is no wonder that
in their teens the hearts
00:30:07.87\00:30:11.19
of their children are
more bound to the hearts
00:30:11.20\00:30:14.19
of their peers than to
the hearts of their parents.
00:30:14.20\00:30:17.34
That is not the way
that God meant for it to be.
00:30:17.35\00:30:22.19
Do you have time
for this in your life?
00:30:22.20\00:30:24.96
Are you finding time to follow
00:30:24.97\00:30:27.66
this
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 lifestyle?
00:30:27.67\00:30:31.36
Is that the way
you live your life
00:30:31.37\00:30:34.51
or are you finding that
you have no time for this
00:30:34.52\00:30:38.86
because the important
always gets sacrificed
00:30:38.87\00:30:43.55
on the altar of the urgent?
00:30:43.56\00:30:47.33
Friends, if that is the
way that is in your life
00:30:47.34\00:30:49.87
then it is time,
we would invite you
00:30:49.88\00:30:52.97
to right now without any--
with out delaying any longer
00:30:52.98\00:30:59.15
reorder the priorities
00:30:59.16\00:31:01.30
in your life
after heavens order.
00:31:01.31\00:31:04.77
You see we need to
give ourselves first
00:31:04.78\00:31:07.56
to God then to our
spouses and to our children,
00:31:07.57\00:31:11.83
not only to our children,
not only for this moment
00:31:11.84\00:31:14.86
by moment instruction
in Godliness, guidance,
00:31:14.87\00:31:18.50
and correction
but also in pleasant
00:31:18.51\00:31:24.46
refreshing
association in recreation,
00:31:24.47\00:31:29.85
recreation that
binds the hearts of parents
00:31:29.86\00:31:33.30
and children in a bond
that cannot be easily broken.
00:31:33.31\00:31:36.81
Indeed we're told
that we must prepare
00:31:36.82\00:31:40.44
the soil of our
children's hearts with love
00:31:40.45\00:31:44.77
and affection thus
preparing it to receive
00:31:44.78\00:31:48.76
the seed of truth that's found
00:31:48.77\00:31:50.31
in "Adventist
Home," home page 18.
00:31:50.32\00:31:52.55
Well, we are here to tell you
00:31:52.56\00:31:54.85
that in taking time
over the past 15 years
00:31:54.86\00:31:58.52
first of all to give
ourselves to each other
00:31:58.53\00:32:01.79
and to our
children, taking time to take
00:32:01.80\00:32:04.66
interest in their
interest, we have found
00:32:04.67\00:32:07.87
that their hearts
have not only been bound
00:32:07.88\00:32:10.86
to ours in a deeper love
than we ever dreamed possible
00:32:10.87\00:32:15.39
but it has made
them more willing to hear
00:32:15.40\00:32:19.97
what we have sort
to teach them about God
00:32:19.98\00:32:24.16
over the years more
willing to adopt for themselves
00:32:24.17\00:32:28.67
to embrace the values
00:32:28.68\00:32:30.98
that we have
purposed to pass on to them.
00:32:30.99\00:32:35.49
Now at this point some of you
00:32:35.50\00:32:38.45
may be sitting
here saying, I blew it.
00:32:38.46\00:32:41.83
Now what do I do?
My children are grown.
00:32:41.84\00:32:44.52
We're estranged, what can I do?
00:32:44.53\00:32:47.45
Brothers and sisters as long
00:32:47.46\00:32:49.13
as there is life there is hope.
00:32:49.14\00:32:52.24
Jesus is the
answer, go to your Savior
00:32:52.25\00:32:55.81
and say Lord I blew it.
00:32:55.82\00:32:57.93
What would you have me to do?
00:32:57.94\00:32:59.73
You can still reach the
hardened heart of a child.
00:32:59.74\00:33:04.34
God will show you the way,
00:33:04.35\00:33:06.77
I believe it--
we've seen it happen,
00:33:06.78\00:33:08.99
where you say Lord, I
don't know what to do.
00:33:09.00\00:33:11.50
Where do I start? First place
you start is on your knees.
00:33:11.51\00:33:15.48
I am willing to do whatever
you would have me to do.
00:33:15.49\00:33:17.51
Second thing you do,
00:33:17.52\00:33:18.99
you find where you
can connect with them.
00:33:19.00\00:33:22.62
The Lord will show
you a way, a common ground
00:33:22.63\00:33:25.81
and then you can
build the bridges.
00:33:25.82\00:33:29.22
It is even an adult
child with grandchildren,
00:33:29.23\00:33:32.99
great
grandchildren you can still
00:33:33.00\00:33:35.19
connect with them for
the Kingdom of Heaven.
00:33:35.20\00:33:37.30
Brothers and sisters we've seen
00:33:37.31\00:33:38.50
it happen over and over again.
00:33:38.51\00:33:40.34
Do not give up, where
there is life there is hope.
00:33:40.35\00:33:45.38
Practically speaking
taking time to give ourselves
00:33:45.39\00:33:49.40
to our children
requires some hard decisions
00:33:49.41\00:33:54.17
and I want to share
with you what some of those
00:33:54.18\00:33:56.14
were for us and the
fruit of those decisions.
00:33:56.15\00:34:00.06
I knew from God's
word that there is a season
00:34:00.07\00:34:04.01
for everything under the sun
00:34:04.02\00:34:07.09
and that this
was the season for me
00:34:07.10\00:34:10.09
to stop doing so
many good things,
00:34:10.10\00:34:13.01
good things outside of the home
00:34:13.02\00:34:15.61
that were keeping me
from having a proper focus
00:34:15.62\00:34:18.50
on my home mission
field, that's what I called it.
00:34:18.51\00:34:22.41
So I made some tough choices.
00:34:22.42\00:34:24.50
You have to
understand that for me
00:34:24.51\00:34:26.57
saying no was very hard
and disappointing others
00:34:26.58\00:34:31.34
was like having
razors in my flesh,
00:34:31.35\00:34:36.33
but I resigned from
media work for a time,
00:34:36.34\00:34:40.80
I resigned from my
membership on boards
00:34:40.81\00:34:45.32
and other service
opportunities that required
00:34:45.33\00:34:48.76
that I be out of the home
00:34:48.77\00:34:50.95
taking time away from my family.
00:34:50.96\00:34:52.79
And I focused rather
on service and outreach
00:34:52.80\00:34:56.24
that we could do as a family.
00:34:56.25\00:34:59.93
So we moved to the
country which we believed
00:34:59.94\00:35:01.76
to be the setting most conducive
00:35:01.77\00:35:03.52
to the
accomplishment of our goals.
00:35:03.53\00:35:06.31
Our primary purpose
became the spiritual nurture
00:35:06.32\00:35:10.10
of our family and
binding our hearts
00:35:10.11\00:35:12.05
to Jesus Christ
and to one to another.
00:35:12.06\00:35:14.65
So we took advantage of
opportunities for service
00:35:14.66\00:35:17.75
and outreach as a family
00:35:17.76\00:35:19.65
and we use the two
small churches in our county
00:35:19.66\00:35:23.51
as training
ground for our children
00:35:23.52\00:35:26.04
to develop their talents
for service and leadership.
00:35:26.05\00:35:29.75
We spend many
seasons in communion with God
00:35:29.76\00:35:32.10
and with one another in nature.
00:35:32.11\00:35:34.50
We took the time
to study God's word
00:35:34.51\00:35:37.10
and we made the
memorization of scripture
00:35:37.11\00:35:39.45
a priority in our lives
00:35:39.46\00:35:41.34
seeking to make it,
the rule of our lives.
00:35:41.35\00:35:45.97
We also took time to do things
00:35:45.98\00:35:48.06
with our children that
were enjoyable for them.
00:35:48.07\00:35:50.77
Ellen White says, in
"Adventist Home," page 110,"
00:35:50.78\00:35:54.17
Make the evening a
pleasant social season
00:35:54.18\00:35:58.32
a family reunion
after the days duties."
00:35:58.33\00:36:02.20
So we took an
hour in the evening
00:36:02.21\00:36:06.61
right before family
worship for family time.
00:36:06.62\00:36:10.34
So we read books
together or played games
00:36:10.35\00:36:13.96
or did engaged
in other activities
00:36:13.97\00:36:17.02
that were enjoyable for
them that were exciting to them
00:36:17.03\00:36:19.57
such as riding
bikes in the moonlight
00:36:19.58\00:36:24.11
and long winter evenings
00:36:24.12\00:36:25.99
or playing hide
and seek in the snow.
00:36:26.00\00:36:28.84
Over the months and
the years that followed
00:36:28.85\00:36:31.87
we began to see the
fruit of that time investment.
00:36:31.88\00:36:38.79
We began to see it in
our marriage first of all.
00:36:38.80\00:36:40.75
We saw it in our
relationship with our Father
00:36:40.76\00:36:44.38
because that was
our first priority
00:36:44.39\00:36:46.45
and we began to see
that in the heart binding
00:36:46.46\00:36:50.92
that was taking
place not just between us
00:36:50.93\00:36:54.23
and the children but between--
00:36:54.24\00:36:55.93
among the siblings themselves.
00:36:55.94\00:36:58.31
And friends,
the fruit was sweet.
00:36:58.32\00:37:02.53
When we thus cooperate
with God talking the time
00:37:02.54\00:37:06.01
to follow His instructions,
taking the time to be still
00:37:06.02\00:37:10.14
before Him to learn of
Him, to learn how to die to self
00:37:10.15\00:37:15.76
and taking the time
to bond with one another,
00:37:15.77\00:37:19.17
our families can become all that
00:37:19.18\00:37:23.07
God design them to be
and we're told that His peace
00:37:23.08\00:37:27.31
and grace and love will pervade
00:37:27.32\00:37:30.83
the family circle
like a precious perfume.
00:37:30.84\00:37:34.75
"Adventist Home," page
17, "That home then becomes"
00:37:34.76\00:37:40.18
An Eden of bliss, " the family,
00:37:40.19\00:37:44.76
a beautiful symbol of
the family of heaven."
00:37:44.77\00:37:48.24
A light in the
community then we find ourselves
00:37:48.25\00:37:52.90
equipped with the most powerful
00:37:52.91\00:37:55.38
evangelistic tool in
our hands because we have
00:37:55.39\00:37:58.43
something that the
world is starving for.
00:37:58.46\00:38:02.02
Because we have something
00:38:02.03\00:38:03.09
that people think
is no longer possible.
00:38:03.10\00:38:07.15
Today our four young
people love the Lord.
00:38:07.16\00:38:11.86
They are fully committed to Him,
00:38:11.87\00:38:13.99
fully committed to our family,
00:38:14.00\00:38:15.87
they are each
others best friends.
00:38:15.88\00:38:18.46
They have said to us that
they would rather spend time
00:38:18.47\00:38:22.52
with our family than
with anyone else on earth.
00:38:22.53\00:38:26.66
The heart to heart connection
that is there is sweet.
00:38:26.67\00:38:31.62
They are fully engaged
in service to their Savior.
00:38:31.63\00:38:36.98
In our ministry as a family
00:38:36.99\00:38:38.74
with Restoration
International sharing
00:38:38.75\00:38:41.50
the practical gospel
with individuals and families.
00:38:41.51\00:38:45.13
They have been very
busy pursuing their studies,
00:38:45.14\00:38:49.87
three of them already engaged
in their college studies,
00:38:49.88\00:38:55.14
and yet they're
devoted to God first
00:38:55.15\00:38:59.43
and to His service
and they are willing
00:38:59.44\00:39:03.05
to sacrifice for Christ sake
00:39:03.06\00:39:04.97
because that is their passion.
00:39:04.98\00:39:07.96
We invested in them
and now they're willing
00:39:07.97\00:39:11.74
and eager to invest their life
00:39:11.75\00:39:15.10
in the service of their Master.
00:39:15.11\00:39:17.48
Honey, I want to give
people a sense of hope.
00:39:17.49\00:39:20.36
They'll be listening
and saying my teenagers,
00:39:20.37\00:39:22.95
forget it, it will never happen.
00:39:22.96\00:39:25.28
When we first made
these hard choices,
00:39:25.29\00:39:28.35
did our children
say, yes! this is great,
00:39:28.36\00:39:31.74
what was their response
00:39:31.75\00:39:32.81
when they-- when
we first started?
00:39:32.82\00:39:34.26
Actually they did not,
we one of the first things
00:39:34.27\00:39:37.41
that we instituted was
this having family time.
00:39:37.42\00:39:40.97
And the truth is
that up until this time
00:39:40.98\00:39:43.40
we had some close
friends in our lives
00:39:43.41\00:39:45.45
with whom our
children were bonded
00:39:45.46\00:39:48.64
more than they were
with their own siblings.
00:39:48.65\00:39:51.22
And so as we
started having family time
00:39:51.23\00:39:54.05
and we said okay from now
on we're gonna take this hour
00:39:54.06\00:39:57.78
and we are just gonna
do special things together.
00:39:57.79\00:40:00.66
And they looked at
us and said what about--
00:40:00.67\00:40:03.80
when are we gonna to
go to our friends house?
00:40:03.81\00:40:06.92
You see they were not--
00:40:06.93\00:40:08.14
it didn't show up as
fun, but we persevered.
00:40:08.15\00:40:11.56
Ah-aah. Persevere.
00:40:11.57\00:40:16.14
Persevere brothers and sisters,
00:40:16.15\00:40:17.65
don't give up, persevere.
00:40:17.66\00:40:19.41
Just say, Lord,
I'm willing to do
00:40:19.42\00:40:20.94
whatever you
would have me to do,
00:40:20.95\00:40:22.06
but don't give
up, don't give up.
00:40:22.07\00:40:25.59
We persevered and the
day came after months.
00:40:25.60\00:40:31.21
When one evening we
said to them, you know,
00:40:31.22\00:40:34.92
tonight we're gonna
do something different.
00:40:34.93\00:40:39.07
We're going to go
over to our friends house
00:40:39.08\00:40:41.44
a particular
friends whose, whose company
00:40:41.45\00:40:44.63
they had coveted
more than anything else
00:40:44.64\00:40:47.88
and our oldest said to
us, well, what's gonna happen
00:40:47.89\00:40:51.68
to our family time? And I said,
00:40:51.69\00:40:54.18
well, that is our family time,
00:40:54.19\00:40:55.35
that's what we're doing
tonight for our family time.
00:40:55.36\00:40:57.43
Well, you see we
were engaged in reading
00:40:57.44\00:40:59.95
a particularly
gripping story and interesting--
00:40:59.96\00:41:04.21
Always end on a cliffhanger.
00:41:04.22\00:41:06.45
Character building
story and they wanted
00:41:06.46\00:41:09.48
to be together to learn
what was happening next.
00:41:09.49\00:41:12.87
So she said, well, can we,
00:41:12.88\00:41:15.53
can we go to
their house another day.
00:41:15.54\00:41:19.08
And we knew that
God was blessing.
00:41:19.09\00:41:21.36
Just brings tears to your eyes.
00:41:21.37\00:41:23.45
In another passage
from Adventist home,
00:41:23.46\00:41:24.89
you'll be going,
why are they picking
00:41:24.90\00:41:26.03
all of these things
from Adventist Home,
00:41:26.04\00:41:27.75
Child Guidance?
Brothers and sisters,
00:41:27.76\00:41:29.61
we have a wealth of information
00:41:29.62\00:41:31.49
at our hands use them.
00:41:31.50\00:41:34.20
They have the
answers to the questions
00:41:34.21\00:41:36.02
that you need,
but you can't get it
00:41:36.03\00:41:37.77
unless you take time to read it.
00:41:37.78\00:41:39.73
In another
passage in Adventist Home,
00:41:39.74\00:41:42.40
we read where we,
how we can accomplish
00:41:42.41\00:41:45.55
setting getting the
home setting and the work
00:41:45.56\00:41:47.39
that the Lord
would have us to do.
00:41:47.40\00:41:49.44
And it says, "Our sphere
of influence may seem narrow
00:41:49.45\00:41:54.64
our ability small,
our opportunities few,
00:41:54.65\00:41:59.38
our acquirements limited,
yet wonderful possibilities
00:41:59.39\00:42:04.64
are ours through a faithful use
00:42:04.65\00:42:07.47
of the
opportunities of our own homes.
00:42:07.48\00:42:10.89
If we will open
our hearts and homes
00:42:10.90\00:42:14.36
to the divine
principles of life,
00:42:14.37\00:42:16.86
we shall become channels
00:42:16.87\00:42:18.94
for currents of
life-giving power.
00:42:18.95\00:42:22.43
From our homes will
flow streams of healing,
00:42:22.44\00:42:26.83
bringing life, and
beauty, and fruitfulness
00:42:26.84\00:42:29.93
where now are
barrenness and dearth."
00:42:29.94\00:42:32.69
This is found in page 32.
00:42:32.70\00:42:34.36
We have been
experiencing the fulfillment
00:42:34.37\00:42:36.40
of that promise in a
very tangible way in our home
00:42:36.41\00:42:39.70
for the past year and a half.
00:42:39.71\00:42:41.77
As we opened our
home in a ministry
00:42:41.78\00:42:44.85
of hospitality in our community,
00:42:44.86\00:42:46.90
we've invited our neighbors
and people that I encountered
00:42:46.91\00:42:50.13
in my medical
practice to an evening of food,
00:42:50.14\00:42:53.93
fellowship,
music, and Bible study
00:42:53.94\00:42:56.74
which we now do on a
regular basis as time permits.
00:42:56.75\00:43:00.82
We have been
amazed by the results.
00:43:00.83\00:43:03.71
They confirmed that
the world is hungering
00:43:03.72\00:43:06.96
and thirsting to see the power
00:43:06.97\00:43:09.01
of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ in a very practical way
00:43:09.02\00:43:13.06
doing its amazing work to
change lives of our family
00:43:13.07\00:43:18.70
at a time when
families are falling apart.
00:43:18.71\00:43:22.59
We pray, that our
testimony will be encouragement
00:43:22.60\00:43:24.73
to you to
reestablish your priorities
00:43:24.74\00:43:28.74
if they are not
ordered a right to seek
00:43:28.75\00:43:31.45
to place the proper
emphasis on the first work
00:43:31.46\00:43:35.89
that the Kingdom of
God and His righteousness
00:43:35.90\00:43:39.37
will be made manifest
in the lives of your family
00:43:39.38\00:43:43.27
and mine and the
fruit of the spirit
00:43:43.28\00:43:45.76
may abound in all our lives.
00:43:45.77\00:43:49.57
One of our sons
has written a song
00:43:49.58\00:43:51.32
that we want to
close with this morning.
00:43:51.33\00:43:54.11
And its a song that
portrays what happens
00:43:54.12\00:43:59.40
when Jesus is
really at the centre
00:43:59.41\00:44:01.96
of our hearts and our homes.
00:44:01.97\00:44:03.72
What happens in our homes,
00:44:03.73\00:44:05.68
become not only that
extremely happy place,
00:44:05.69\00:44:10.22
but a light our home
becomes as a "Beacon of Light"
00:44:10.23\00:44:14.34
in the land to
illuminate the darkness
00:44:14.35\00:44:19.40
that we find as we see
families falling apart.
00:44:19.41\00:44:23.86
"Home in Jesus Hands"
00:44:23.87\00:44:26.46
There is a place upon this earth
00:44:36.76\00:44:42.38
That stands
unrivaled in its worth
00:44:42.39\00:44:48.28
It is a home where Jesus reigns,
00:44:48.29\00:44:53.90
And angels love to dwell
00:44:53.91\00:44:59.43
Where father,
mother, girl and boy
00:44:59.44\00:45:04.98
Are satellites of Heaven's joy
00:45:04.99\00:45:10.36
And servants of
the King of Kings
00:45:10.37\00:45:15.68
While on the earth they dwell.
00:45:15.69\00:45:19.95
When Christ is the
life of the family,
00:45:19.96\00:45:25.66
That home is a light in the land
00:45:25.67\00:45:30.84
A beacon so bright, it
shines through the night,
00:45:30.85\00:45:36.27
As proof that a
family can stand,
00:45:36.28\00:45:41.28
When their home
is in Jesus hands
00:45:41.29\00:45:47.99
There are times
when the world looks dark
00:45:48.00\00:45:53.19
When wind and storm
have left their mark,
00:45:53.20\00:45:58.48
When clouds have
covered up the sun
00:45:58.49\00:46:03.77
And all is cold and gray
00:46:03.78\00:46:09.04
But in our hearts
there shines a light,
00:46:09.05\00:46:14.39
The Word of God,
the ways of right
00:46:14.40\00:46:19.64
When it its
ways we walk and stay
00:46:19.65\00:46:24.79
The darkness turns to day
00:46:24.80\00:46:29.07
When Christ is the
life of the family,
00:46:29.08\00:46:34.72
That home is a light in the land
00:46:34.73\00:46:39.97
A beacon so bright, it
shines through the night,
00:46:39.98\00:46:45.21
As proof that a
family can stand,
00:46:45.22\00:46:50.06
When their home
is in Jesus hands
00:46:50.07\00:46:56.61
There is a call for every soul,
00:46:56.62\00:47:01.85
Each father,
mother, boy and girl,
00:47:01.86\00:47:06.98
To live a life
that speaks of love
00:47:06.99\00:47:12.28
In service here below
00:47:12.29\00:47:17.44
And all
throughout the ages blessed
00:47:17.45\00:47:22.94
When we have found eternal rest,
00:47:22.95\00:47:28.18
We'll be at home
with Heaven's Best
00:47:28.19\00:47:33.40
Our Savior, God, and King
00:47:33.41\00:47:37.71
When Christ is the
life of the family,
00:47:37.72\00:47:43.16
That home is a light in the land
00:47:43.17\00:47:48.40
A beacon so bright, it
shines through the night,
00:47:48.41\00:47:53.35
As proof that a
family can stand,
00:47:53.36\00:47:58.59
When Christ is the
life of the family,
00:47:58.60\00:48:03.79
That home is a light in the land
00:48:03.80\00:48:08.92
A beacon so bright, it
shines through the night,
00:48:08.93\00:48:14.04
As proof that a
family can stand,
00:48:14.05\00:48:18.78
When their home
is in Jesus hands
00:48:18.79\00:48:24.75
Let us pray,
heavenly Father I believe
00:48:35.28\00:48:39.09
that every family here
desires to be in a family
00:48:39.10\00:48:44.76
that You will have us to be.
00:48:44.77\00:48:47.99
We want to be
demonstration projects Lord
00:48:48.00\00:48:50.79
of what the saving power
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
00:48:50.80\00:48:55.76
can do in a family.
00:48:55.77\00:49:00.15
Father, we know
that as the Holy Spirit
00:49:00.16\00:49:04.82
calls to our hearts we
want to respond not in despair
00:49:04.83\00:49:09.66
but leaning upon the
strength of Jesus Christ to do
00:49:09.67\00:49:13.26
what You have called us to do.
00:49:13.27\00:49:16.43
So we pray for every family here
00:49:16.44\00:49:18.06
that if they've
come into the conviction
00:49:18.07\00:49:19.70
that they will go
to You for the answers
00:49:19.71\00:49:22.95
that they will
hear not just be hearers
00:49:22.96\00:49:26.06
but doers of the word.
00:49:26.07\00:49:28.11
To this end we
give You the glory
00:49:28.12\00:49:29.63
and the honor and
praise for any good thing
00:49:29.64\00:49:31.78
that we do, that shows,
what a family in Jesus can do,
00:49:31.79\00:49:38.55
in this world, in Jesus name.
00:49:38.56\00:49:41.16